Cypress River Agricultural Society celebrates 130 years

The Cypress River Agricultural Society (Ag Society) held its 130th Anniversary parade on Saturday, July 19th, and it was fabulous.

Thirty-eight entries joined the parade lineup, starting with Mark Law on horseback as the Parade Marshall.

The first float was submitted by the Ag Society, resplendent in long gold tinsel and bright yellow balloons, the trailer was adorned with straw bales and horse tack regalia as a testament to the Ag Society’s lengthy history. The tractor pulling the trailer was a 1957 Oliver Super 88 Diesel driven by Paul Hutlet who shared that he still uses that tractor around the farm. Following the Ag Society float was the Cypress River Fire Department, who brought out three of their red and silver beauties polished to their shiny best.

There were so many entries that it became difficult to keep track of them all.

A large variety of vintage tractors, trucks and cars, both new and vintage, business floats, bike riders, donkeys, and so much more.

To everyone who took part in the parade marking the Cypress River Agricultural Society’s 130 years of excellence, thank you! You all helped make this year’s Fair a fantastic success!

Many people were stationed along the parade route, watching the various entries pass by. I was able to speak with several individuals who had watched the parade in its entirety. They were just thrilled at the number of entries. “It was just so great to see. Just so great. I am proud to live in this community and proud of what the Ag Society has accomplished. It was one of the best parades yet!”

Grant Jackson was also in attendance, arriving early to the festivities to meet and talk to as many attendees as possible before lining up for the parade.

They were able to fit so much into the Fair this year so fluidly!

On Saturday, there was not only the parade but also a truck, tractor, and car show, as well as a pet show! All this, plus, the Rink kitchen was open and serving the best burgers anywhere!

Sunday morning, the weather was gloomy, wet and chilly, but who cared when you could head down to the rink kitchen at 9 a.m. sharp and be treated to a fantastic breakfast of bacon, ham, eggs, hashbrowns, toast and pancakes and of course coffee or juice.

Trust me when I say it was more than worth getting rained on a bit for a feast that good!

Sadly, the numbers for the morning were down slightly, but it didn’t dampen the spirits of the impressive crew who expertly manned the kitchen.

At 10 a.m., the vendors were set up and the horse shows, which are a ‘must watch’, were started.

As the day wore on, the weather started to clear and the sun shone brightly. It turned into a perfect day for a Fair.

The costume class for horses is always a fun spectacle to see, and this year was no exception, with many cute and creative costumes, including Shrek and a couple of Minions. To everyone who participated in the costume class, thank you so much! You all brought many smiles to the audience!

The Three Berts played a two-hour set of songs that transported the audience back to a bygone era. They never fail to impress, sharing their well honed musical talents. The smiles on the faces of those listening said it all. They are outstanding musicians.

The kids’ play area teamed with excited children who were trying to decide where to start. The bouncy wave proved to be very popular, but so was the treasure hunt, and the Sunrise Credit Union tent that had games to be played and prizes to be won.

Then there was the enormous slip ‘n’ slide manned by volunteer firefighters from the Cypress River Fire Department. The kids just loved it!

Belgium Bowling got underway on time, with players from both sides staying focused on their next shots.

The exhibit hall was filled with a vast array of exhibits.

According to organizers, there was a significant increase in exhibits this year, with so many submissions to wow the onlookers. Vegetables and fruit, plants of all shapes, sizes, and varieties, jams, jellies, paintings, needlework, handicrafts, photographs, and so much more. It was awe-inspiring to see.

While touring the exhibits, I came upon a woman spinning yarn, an almost lost art that she plans to teach others so the craft can be passed on. She also demonstrated harness repair using two heavy-duty needles to create a strong and lasting fix.

PHOTO CAPTION: The costume class at the horse show was just one of the several events that took place at the Cypress River Ag Society Fair this past weekend. PHOTO BY SUZANNE PADDOCK